Connecter for ventilating racks or trays



June 15 1926.

E. A. DOWNEY CONNECTER FOR VENTILATING RACKS OR TRAYS Filed March 6 1925 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES EDWARD A. DOWNEY, 0F DEL RAY, VIRGINIA.

CONNECTER FOR VENTILATING RACKS OR TRAYS.

Application filed March 6, 1925.

This invention relates to an attachment for railway cars and more particularly to a connector for hingedly connecting the several panels of slatted racks used above the floor of a freight car. The device being used particularly in the shipment of fruits, vegetables and other perishable goods, to permit ventilation at the bottonr of the material being shipped.

The object of the invention is to provide a connection which will permit folding, face to face or back to back of the members to which it is attached.

Another object of the invention, is the construction of a simple'device of few parts and of such construction as to have maximum strength at a minimum cost of manuthrough a portion of the rack, the section being taken on line 22 of'Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the hinged sections of the panel being shown in full lines, back to back and in dotted lines folded face to face; and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the connecter.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a section of panels, there being four sections like the one shown attached to each car. Each section comprises intermediate panels 1 and 2, which are hin edly connected to the side of the car as s own at 3, permitting the said panels to be moved to a vertical position along the side of the car.

End panels 4 andv 5 are hinged to the panels 1 and 2 respectively. Each panel consists of longitudinal members 6 and cross slats 7 the members 6 of one panel being staggered with relation to the members 6 of the next panel.

It is necessary at times to fold the end panels on the intermediate panels in face Serial No. 13,655.

to face position. At other times it is desirable to fold the panels back to back. To permit folding in either position connectors 8 are provided. oppositely disposed attaching shanks t) and 10, provided with bolt openings 11. Connter-sunk headed bolts 12 are used to secure the hinge members to the end slats 7 of adjacent panels. An eye 13 is formed on the ,upturned end 1a of the shank 9. The eye 13 carries one end of a link 15, the other end of which is slidable in a loop 16, depending from shank 10 and below the eye 13. i

It will be observed from an insepction of Figure 2 of the drawing that the entire connecter is located between the upper and lower surfaces of the panels, so that no part of the connecter projects above the panel .to damage goods shipped without being crated, such as watermelons. It will also be seen by reference to Figure 3 that the connected panels may be folded in either position as heretofore described. the device providing a connection the attaching ends of which are in longitudinal alignment and the pivotal connection between the same being formed without the use of bolts, nuts or rivets, thus producing a strong connection, which may be easily andcheaply manufactured.

It will be noted that the opening of the link member is of substantially the same width as the width of thewall of the loop member and the length of the eye of the other member, and that the opening of the link is substantially rectangular. By thus proportioning the parts relative lateral movement of the connected panels is practically prevented. The parts 9 and 10 are preferably fastened upon the coplanar under surfaces of the slats of adjacent panels and thus no portions of the hinges project above the panels when the latter are in use, as shown in Figure 2.

Having thus describtd the invention, What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of panels adapted to be dis posed in horizontal alignment, rigid hinge elements secured to the panels, a rigid connecting member, and means for pivotall uniting the connecting member with eac of the hinge elements, one of the last specified means being so constructed as to permit the panels to be folded together back Each connecter comprises to back or face to face, all portions of the hinge elements and the connecting member being housed between the panels and being located entirely below the upper surface of the panels when the panels are in alignment and in the same horizontal plane.

2. A hinge comprising members, one of which is provided at its inner end with an eye, the other of which is provided at its inner end with an elongated loop, the loop and the eye projecting in opposite directions when the hinge is open and a link one end of which is pivoted 1n the eye, the other end of which is pivoted in the 100 and is slidable therein longitudinally of t e loop.

3. A hinge comprising two shank or attaching portions and a member connecting the same, said connecting member being pivotally secured to both of said portions and also being slidable relatively to one of said portions through a limited distance, for the purpose set forth.

4. A hinge device for connecting the adjacent ends of two frames or panels in such manner that the panels may be disposed in the same plane, folded face to face, or folded back to back, comprising a loop member secured to the end of one panel with its long axis transverse thereto, and a link having one portion extending through the loop and a second ortion pivotally secured to the second panel 5. A hinge device for connecting the adjacent ends of two frames or panels in such manner that the panels may be disposed in the same plane, folded face to face, or folded back to back, comprising a loop member secured to the end of one panel with its long axis transverse thereto, a link having one end portion extending through the loop, and an eye secured to the second panel through which the opposite end of the link extends.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which the wall of the loop member is substantially of the same width as the opening of the link and the o ening of the link is substantially rectangu ar, whereby side play of the panels is resisted.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which the wall of the loop member is substantially of the same width as the opening of the link, the eye has a length substantially equal to the Width of the wall of the loop, and the opening of the link is substantially rectangular, whereby side play of the panels is resisted.

8. The combination with two panels arranged end to end and having substantially coplanar surfaces intermediate their upper and lower faces, of a hinge device for connecting said panels in such manner that. they may be folded face to face or back to back, said device including a loop member disposed substantially transversely to said coplanar surfaces and having a ortion extending along and-secured a ainst one of said surfaces, an eye member aving a portion extending along and secured against the other of said surfaces, and a link extending through both loop and eye members and positively connecting the same, no portion of the loop, eye or link extending beyond the faces of the panels when arranged end to end.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the wall of the loop member is substantially of the same width as the opening of the link, the eye has a length substantially equal to the width of the wall of the loop. and the opening of the link is substantially rectangular, whereby side play of the panels is resisted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWARD A. DOWNEY. 

